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Broken items and spillage at a PriceSmart location following the earthquake
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Errol Greene, Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA)
The Earthquake Unit has confirmed that sections of Jamaica were shaken Monday morning by a magnitude 5.6 tremor.
It was felt at 10:57 a.m.
The epicentre was located approximately 10 kilometres south of Buff Bay, Portland.
The depth was 18 kilometres.
The earthquake's intensity was felt primarily in eastern Jamaica and several other parishes.
There have been structural damage to buildings and items including food after they fell from supermarket shelves.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the preliminary assessment from the Office Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is that the damage has been minor.
"But nevertheless, we are taking all precautions. All the necessary protocols have been activated. Here at the office of the Prime Minister, the NWA (National Works Agency) will be doing an assessment to ensure that the building is safe for Cabinet to resume."
He is appealing for Jamaicans to remain calm.
"It is likely that after the initial shock, there are usually aftershocks, so you want to be in a safe place. That safe place may be outside until you have conducted an assessment of the building and you will have determined that it is safe to re-enter the building. Again, remain calm," he urged.
Spike in hospital patients
Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Errol Greene, told Radio Jamaica News that Bustamante Hospital for Children's Hospital has seen a spike in children seeking treatment for trauma.
In addition, he said several students turned up at the hospital after they were hit on the head by falling objects.
Mr. Greene also disclosed that there was damage to at least one hospital in SERHA, leading to patients being relocated. The city engineer is on site to assess the damage.
Kingston Public Hospital has also been evacuated by most patients as checks for structural damage take place.
When Radio Jamaica News visited the hospital, people were seen lined up on the outside of the building waiting to re-enter. Even as the hospital was evacuated, more people were streaming unto the outside of the property. Students who had apparently fainted were seen in wheelchairs awaiting attention.
JPS
The Jamaica Public Service said it is still in the process of evaluating the full extent of the damage to its power distribution network, but initial assessment has revealed damage to several transmission and distribution lines.
JPS said this resulted in the automatic shut-down of at least one substation and two generating plants, as part of the system's built-in protection mechanism.
Several communities are now without supply – mainly in the Corporate Area, where the impact of the earthquake was strongest.
JPS said it has started restoration of electricity service to customers and is asking for customers to be patient and understanding, as the process may take some time.
The company noted that some of its workers have been temporarily displaced, due to damage to its administrative and operations buildings.
This will impact response time to customer calls.
Customers are therefore urged to make reports via the JPS Mobile App, and to contact the Customer Care Centre only in the case of emergencies until further notice.
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